This Is Uncomfortable

Brittany Walsh and Nicole O’Neil, two sisters facing a health crisis, share their emotional journey of navigating health challenges and alternative treatments. Brittany worries as Nicole spends on dubious remedies, leading to tension. They discuss their contrasting views on wellness and the strain on their relationship, highlighted by the complexities of trauma and anxiety. With an exploration of chronic illness and the disappointment of mistrust in conventional medicine, their story captures the essence of sibling support in turbulent times.

Hanif Abdurraqib, an award-winning poet and cultural critic from Columbus, dives deep into what it truly means to 'make it' in a world rife with inequality. He candidly shares his own financial struggles, including a harrowing eviction experience, and the weight of moral judgments tied to success. The conversation shifts to the importance of community, the impact of grief on creativity, and redefining success beyond materialism. Hanif also emphasizes the power of storytelling to celebrate resilience in marginalized communities.

The latest season dives deep into the emotional side of finance, uncovering stories of advocating for fair pay and coping with a loved one's poor money decisions. Listeners will hear about the unique ways money impacts grief and the surprising joy of receiving an inheritance. One segment even features a man who shares his vision for wealth redistribution to strengthen his community. Plus, there’s a reflective look back at the lessons learned over ten engaging seasons.

When we last heard from Hana Albaioumy, she was faced with an agonizing decision. She was contemplating what it would take to flee the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza. The only way for her to evacuate Gaza was by crossing the border with Egypt, but it would cost a lot of money, as much as $5,000 a person. It was hard to imagine spending that much. Hana had worked hard her whole life to help her family climb out of poverty. She’d succeeded and created a career for herself at an international humanitarian organization. Her efforts brought her enough money to leave Gaza with her husband, but she’d still have to start from scratch. Now she’s doing just that. Hana and her husband left for Cairo in April, but they couldn’t afford to bring the rest of their family with them. Before she fled, she’d imagined that leaving Gaza would at least help her rest easier. It had been so long since she’d even had decent food. But now that she and her husband are in Cairo, they’re isolated. They have no idea what’s next. And Hana still can’t manage to keep food down. In this update, we’ll hear from Hana about what it was like to say goodbye to her family, how she’s coping with the violence in Gaza from afar, and the one fleeting moment when she felt like her old self, from before the war began. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And subscribe to our newsletter for more Uncomfortable stories you won’t hear on the podcast and recommendations from our team to make your money — and your life — better. If you missed it, here’s the latest issue.If you want to tell us what you thought about the episode or anything else, email us at uncomfortable@marketplace.org or fill out the form below.

Do you listen carefully to our credits every week? Then you might’ve heard of our “silent contributor,” Jasmine Romero, who has been editing “This Is Uncomfortable” for the past year and a half. And all along, she’s also been working on another podcast of her own, “Sacred Scandal: Nation of Saints.” It’s a show with a lot of Uncomfortable themes — immigration, family secrets and how money messes with politics — that TIU listeners are sure to appreciate.We’re sharing the first episode of Jasmine’s new pod, and to tee it up, Reema sits down with Jasmine to talk about how she reported this deeply personal story about the Salvadoran Civil War, the assassination of a beloved archbishop, and an unsolved murder in her own family. Reema and Jasmine reflect on how the show connects to current news events, and they bond over the challenges of interviewing their own parents, as Reema did for our recent episode, “A conversation with Baba.” If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And subscribe to our newsletter for more Uncomfortable stories you won’t hear on the podcast, and recommendations from our team to make your money — and your life — better. If you missed it, here’s the latest issue.If you want to tell us what you thought about the episode or anything else, email us at uncomfortable@marketplace.org or fill out the form below.

Join the podcast team on a book club journey exploring themes of money, class, and work. Sign up for the newsletter by June 15 for a chance to win exclusive show merch.

An energetic octogenarian, Doris Tyler, relied on stem cell injections for vision treatment after traditional methods failed. The podcast explores the emotional and financial struggles faced by Doris and her husband, as they navigate the world of stem cell therapy. It highlights the complexities and risks associated with seeking cutting-edge medical solutions, including crowdfunding campaigns and unexpected complications post-treatment.

A garment worker named Lorena takes a stand against the abysmal conditions and meager pay in the fast fashion industry. Her journey highlights the troubling realities of wage theft and the fight for fair compensation among workers. The discussion delves into the proposed Garment Workers Protection Act and the obstacles faced in achieving better conditions. Personal stories reveal the resilience of workers navigating this exploitative system, emphasizing the need for solidarity and collective action in the quest for justice.

Fashion educator and sustainable stylist Lakyn Carlton shares her journey away from fast fashion. Reema explores the pressure to impress at work in a vintage store. Lakyn discusses the shift to sustainable fashion and importance of consuming less. Thrift store shopping tips and anecdotes are shared. Reema reflects on past panic shopping experiences and personal style choices. The negative impacts of the fashion industry on workers and the environment are highlighted.

In this episode, Lindsay Niehay discusses experiencing weight discrimination during her medical career, shedding light on the challenges faced in proving discrimination and the lack of legal protections against weight discrimination in the US. The episode highlights Lindsay's journey towards a medical career despite body image struggles, her battles against weight bias in emergency medicine, and facing discrimination at work leading to her wrongful termination.